When you approach or move through a building, there may be things that make you respond in a positive way with delight, at elements like colour, light, scale or particular objects and decoration. A place that feels well managed, clean, welcoming and that serves the needs of its users can feel utterly delightful.

Delight is deeply personal.

Examples

Reflecting beauty

Light, colour and textures can come together to create both fleeting and fixed patterns and effects within a space and draw attention to specific features of a building.   

St Paul’s Old Ford, London
Source: Empowering Design Practices

Sheffield Buddhist Centre
Source: Empowering Design Practices

Co-designing playfulness and delight

Involving children and young people in design can lead to imaginative, fun ideas for art and design. In this hospital, the children’s sanctuary space takes the form of a tree house with an art installation of a series of birds and other creatures to surround and complement it.

Alder Hey in the Park, Liverpool
Source: The Glass-House Community Led Design

Animating spaces through art

Custom-made murals and other art works can help to convey the special character of a building and create vibrant, colourful spaces for users to enjoy.  ​

Norris Green Youth Centre, Liverpool
​A mural by two illustrators, Loch Ness and Dave Bain, takes up a whole wall in this youth centre
Source: The Glass-House Community Led Design

St Luke’s Church, Oxford
A painted cross by a member of the church celebrates the important role that art plays in the church’s work
​Source: Empowering Design Practices

Natural tranquility

Many people enjoy quiet green spaces, where they can commune with nature. The spaces outside a building can offer an environment that complements the rooms inside it. Nature can also be brought into buildings to create internal garden spaces.

Sheffield Buddhist Centre
​Source: Empowering Design Practices

St Peter’s Church, Hereford
​​Source: Empowering Design Practices

Take a look at your building

Looking at what’s there​
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1. How do you feel when you approach and enter your building? What is it about the place that provokes that reaction?
   
   
2. Are there specific parts or features in your building that you love? What makes them special to you?
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3. Moving around your building, identify places or views that you think might provoke different reactions from different people. Why might people respond to them differently?

Looking to the future​
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1. How can the functional and aesthetic qualities of a place come together to create positive feelings for those using it?
   
   
2. When introducing new design elements, how can you take into account the potential reactions of different people?
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3. How can changes to your building enhance some of the unique existing features already contained within it?

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